Summer recruiting heating up...

[Big Mike]

Dave Reynolds:

http://www.pjstar.com/bradleyhoops/x1271219087/Summer-recruiting-heating-up

[jeffsu]

t gets a shootout at the end of this one:

Contrary to an Internet blogger??™s report, ex-Brave Devon Hodges has not transferred to Division I LIU-Brooklyn. An inquiry to the school??™s sports information office yielded this response from associate director Dan Lobacz: ???We have not heard anything about Devon transferring to LIU. We are diligent about putting releases out on kids who sign an NLI or scholarship papers with LIU and have received nothing in regards to him.???

[tornado]

I assume I am not the blogger referred to but that DR is referring to the blogger I quoted.
.....and I can see that a lot of what I have posted has been used in this column...

I might point to the fact that I said Devon decided to transfer to LIU -- I never said he was enrolled nor on scholarship..

In fact here's what I said...

"Devon Hodges waited a while then finally has decided to transfer to LIU-Brooklyn to complete his basketball career"

but don't believe me -- here's what Devon himself said...

"College Decisions Ain't No Joke. I'm Just Glad I Finally Made My Definite Choice Out Of Rutgers or LIU-Brooklyn"

https://twitter.com/GA_hodges24/status/193365507037085701

even if DH did decide to transfer there would naturally be a period where NOBODY at the school could speak about him - thus their school's official statement might still be "we have not heard anything" even if DH is trying to transfer - time will tell....obviously SOMETHING is up as there is talk by Devon himself and by that LIU blogger

[tornado]

Lastly - one other unconfirmed report says...

"...I thought that you would be pleased to know that LIU signed a transfer..
Devon Hodges for the 2013 2014 season..He is transferring from Bradley.. Great
Backstory on Devon"

then references this site...CollegeHoopsUpdate (a relatively reputable site) which then also says Devon Hodges is transferring to LIU

"Devon Hodges
LIU-Brooklyn
Profile
Eligibility: SO
Position: PF
Height: 6-7 Weight: 225
Status: Scholarship
Signing Year: 2012-13
Home: Plainsfield, IL

Miscellaneous
High School(s)
Romeoville
Prep School
Graduation Year
2011
Junior College(s)

Transfer College
Bradley Redshirt Year
2012-13
Originally committed to Wisconsin."

http://collegehoopsupdate.com/html/player_info.php?recordid=8046

they also list hodges to LIU on their transfer database

http://collegehoopsupdate.com/html/transfer_search_result.php?Type=2&year=2011-12&submit=Find

time will tell where he lands.........

[jeffsu]

Agreed, t. It's actually nice to see that they are doing some behind the scenes digging to verify stories. You know, like most newspapers do. Seems they have a recent past of believing everything they read online and not checking. So props to them there.

[tornado]

I agree - but it's obvious that some of the material for that article does come directly from reading the message boards -
...but again -- my point is that even if Devon HAS decided to tranfer there and has talked with the coach and is in the process of transferring- and it's pretty obvious that something IS UP in that regard
based on those reports and Devon's own tweet.........
NOBODY at the school would be able to say anything about him until the paperwork is signed - so all the SID's answer means is the paperwork is not signed for such a transfer.


btw-- Eddren McCain is now at Texas College, Tyler, TX - an NAIA, HBCU in Texas, but I do not know if he will play basketball this coming year.
ex-BU commit Daniel West (Class of 2008 ) went to Rhode Island and played in 19 games before leaving in 2011 and apparently has not played since...although he may have one year of eligibility left -

[lightsout]

Reynolds tweets that he has gotten a text message from Devon's dad saying he is not going to LIU.

https://twitter.com/DaveReynolds2/status/221062784274808832

[tornado]

OK -- good enough for me

[lightsout]

Even more tweets from Mr. Reynolds saying that Hodges is very close to deciding on a new school, so who knows whats going on.

https://twitter.com/DaveReynolds2/status/221067659444371457

[cpacmel]

In fact here's what I said...

"Devon Hodges waited a while then finally has decided to transfer to LIU-Brooklyn to complete his basketball career"

but don't believe me -- here's what Devon himself said...

"College Decisions Ain't No Joke. I'm Just Glad I Finally Made My Definite Choice Out Of Rutgers or LIU-Brooklyn"

https://twitter.com/GA_hodges24/status/193365507037085701

Tornado, I think you got the wrong Devon Hodges there.

[tornado]

possible but I didn't get that one - that was the one quoted by the sources I gave

but wait a minute - I only posted a few links to things said about him I am not the one debating whether he can play at this level or what someone else has said about on the boards,
or how many sophomores and seniors he's gonna play with, etc, etc....I think that was you....

[tornado]

BTW -- getting back to the main body of the recruiting column by Dave Reynolds this morning...

Many of Dave Reynolds' previous articles on recruiting have been VERY specific and have named names.....sometimes numerous names identifying exactly who we were targeting and watching and who would be visiting....
This column is so different in the sense that nothing specific is even hinted at -- everything is far to the other extreme of vague and non-specific...
..wonder what we can take from that??

If you read the parts about where they're going and who they're targeting - and the things said and quoted from Jaden, it sounds like we are kinda starting from scratch (talking about the "first piece falls.." & that we haven't even got the "first piece" of 2013 going yet) and not targeting anyone in particular...
So - after all the names - dozens - (like Karrington Ward, Taphorn, Riley, Allen, Austin) that have been thrown around and named in the past or that we've offered - none are being mentioned now, nor is there word of us following any of them...
..just targeting a broad area from "Milwaukee to Chicago to St. Louis to Indianapolis to Philadelphia .." in hopes of getting someone.
Is this part of our good news???

It also sounds like the goal is to do some excellent work this next couple weeks and find "a wing who can play right away and be a good rebounder, whether it??™s a junior college or a high school kid....We??™re also looking for a high school (power forward), some size and a shooter."
...so we are still in the discovery phase - looking for someone "under the radar" or a "hidden gem"...

Then this comment...
" ...this staff is much more connected in the college hoops world than the previous regime..."
..offered without any support to the dismay of some readers I am sure...
The proof is in the pudding isn't it - so time will tell....we DO NOT have any difference makers yet contrary to the drooling reports we have heard.

[lake Camelot]

So - after all the names - dozens - (like Karrington Ward, Taphorn, Riley, Allen, Austin) that have been thrown around and named in the past or that we've offered - none are being mentioned now, nor is there word of us following any of them...

I agree we may miss out on all of our early "first" choices. They are pretty much all getting higher level offers than Bradley. Makes it unlikely. I think the most likely early target would be K J Langston. He would not be a home run like some of the others we have offered. But seems to be a pretty good player.

I am hoping we have some early success in recruiting. But it is a long road there is plenty of time to fill our openings and plenty of different ways. High School,Juco,Transfer, Late in the season available kids.

[JMM28]

I agree we may miss out on all of our early "first" choices. They are pretty much all getting higher level offers than Bradley. Makes it unlikely. I think the most likely early target would be K J Langston. He would not be a home run like some of the others we have offered. But seems to be a pretty good player.

I am hoping we have some early success in recruiting. But it is a long road there is plenty of time to fill our openings and plenty of different ways. High School,Juco,Transfer, Late in the season available kids.

I believe the key to success in recruiting at a school like Bradley is knowing when to move on from your plan A. Stick too long to plan A and your plans B, C, and D all move on to other options leaving you with plan E.

[cpacmel]

possible but I didn't get that one - that was the one quoted by the sources I gave

but wait a minute - I only posted a few links to things said about him I am not the one debating whether he can play at this level or what someone else has said about on the boards,
or how many sophomores and seniors he's gonna play with, etc, etc....I think that was you....

It's not possible, it is a fact that is a different Devon Hodges. He is a 6'1 guard out of Manchester, NJ.

I guess in the end, the morale is.....can't always trust the bloggers!